The men, aged 23 and 30, were detained during a search of a house in the Donegall Pass area of south Belfast. They are being questioned at a police station in the city.

Detective Inspector Andy Dunlop, from Organised Crime Branch, said: "In the past nine days we have carried out searches at 22 addresses in Northern Ireland and have made 12 arrests.

"Five people have been remanded in custody, two were released on bail pending a report to the PPS and three others are due to appear in court tomorrow.

“We have seized £1 million worth of cannabis in Northern Ireland and have worked closely with colleagues in the National Crime Agency and Italian Carabinieri as additional searches were conducted and arrests were made. Our enquiries are continuing.”